We work with a lot of agricultural producers that recognize the importance of working with a financial partner like Farm Services Agency (FSA), as they provide access to ag-specific, cheap capital. But, we also hear about some of the challenges and questions that arise in trying to access this capital.

FSA recently released the type of collateral requirements they have to access their guaranteed loan programs for land and agricultural production.

The Lancet Commission published a report that helps define what it means to eat a healthy, sustainable diet. "The EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health brings together more than 30 world-leading scientists from across the globe to reach a scientific consensus that defines a healthy and sustainable diet."

Lots of great food for thought in this report by Village Capital. How do we grow a sustainable food system, exactly? Who needs to be at the table to achieve this, what is sustainable, what's working right now, and what's missing? Interesting case studies and thought provoking ideas, such as:

A new report from Refresh on technology, sustainability, and food production:

"Emerging technologies are transforming every part of our nation’s complex food system. From food production and distribution, to the safety of our food supply and the management of industrial food waste, these advances are already changing the ways we respond to hunger, soil erosion, pollution, and over-development. But the way we talk about these innovations— and the way the public understands them—could use a refresh."

Foodshed Investors friend Amy Bell co-authored this report, which "offers a new way of thinking about the relationship between financial returns and social and environmental impact. Instead of debating whether impact objectives detract from the financial performance of a fund, it identifies the ways in which impact objectives enhance financial performance, based on transactions in the portfolios of market-rate investment managers. This concept is known as “impact alpha".

Says author and VilCap President Ross Baird: "Our current capital structures – particularly the most well-publicized options of venture capital and bank loans – reward the few and leave the many on the sidelines. Billion-dollar tech “unicorns” distort our view of a successful startup economy. Most startup capital goes to just a few people, in a few places, and a few industries. Half of the world’s venture capital goes to just three US states...

Do community-based grassroots approaches and economically sustainable business models have to be mutually exclusive?

Garret Broad answers: "I think that social justice movements in general don’t engage enough with market ideas... If we don’t engage actively and think critically about how we can make capitalism work, or new kinds of capitalism work, there are other people and institutions that are going to do a much better job of it without the kind of social and political commitments that we have."

​Jarred & Curt of AFI were honored to attend (and even get to speak) at FARFA's 10th Annual Farm & Food Leadership Conference in Bastrop this past September 25-27. We heard this rousing keynote from Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition reported on the US Department of Agriculture's 2014 Organic Production Survey, the first such survey since 2008. And there was good news - there was a 72% increase in organic sales over the last five years.

The RUAF Foundation, of The Netherlands, specializes in Urban Agriculture and City Region Food Strategies. Supurbfood, another Dutch non-profit in the urban food space, has collaborated with RUAF on two new papers...

"Cities and Agriculture: Developing Resilient Urban Food Systems", Edited by Hen de Zeeuw of the RUAF Foundation, provides ​urban planners, local policy makers and urban development practitioners with an overview of crucial aspects of urban food systems based on an up to date review of research results and practical experiences in both developed and developing countries.

Food Navigator reported that even the "big guns" that release new packaged foods don't often have a winning formula for long-term success. It seems the secret lies in starting small and tapping into new consumer trends.

Economist Michael Shuman's third book on local economies focuses on "polinators": organizations such as AFI that pursue regional economic development functions. Kirkus reviews the book, which starts with a critique of mainstream economic development.

From Amazon: "The Transformation of American Agriculture exposes and illuminates the two momentous and radically different transformations currently underway in American agriculture, which may ultimately leave us with two utterly disconnected food systems. Kathy O. Brozek’s meticulously researched and highly engaging book highlights key milestones in these transformations—including the advent of genetically modified crops and hyper-industrialization." Published 1/15/14.

Jed Emerson of Impact Assets discusses capital allocation, "finance first" vs. "impact first", and various vectors of risk... including "conformance risk", that is, having portfolio assets that are outside what might be typically held. Then, on the flip side of the coin, Emerson addresses returns, including this: ​